PORTLAND — With little fanfare or discussion, the Maine Turnpike Authority board of directors Thursday paved the way for a new turnpike toll plaza in York 1.5 miles north of the current plaza. The unanimous vote of the board sets in motion a state and federal permitting process, the next step toward actual construction. MTA […]
politics
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Penobscot chief says tribe’s relationship with Maine at all-time low
LEWISTON — The chief of Maine’s largest Native American tribe said Thursday that its relationship with state government was at an all-time low. “I don’t know that it’s ever been good, but right now it’s as bad as I’ve ever seen it,” Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis said in a presentation at the Lewiston Public […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Androscoggin County to upgrade Probate Courtroom’s recording system
AUBURN — The Androscoggin County Commission voted Wednesday to spend more than $8,000 from the county contingency fund to upgrade the recording equipment in the Probate Courtroom. The recording system in use is a hand-held device that is unreliable and is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The court is mandated to […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Martin prevails in Lewiston School Committee recount
LEWISTON — City officials conducted a recount of the Ward 4 School Committee race Thursday, and newcomer Benjamin Martin was declared the winner. Longtime Chairman Jim Handy lost his seat to Martin by 24 votes, 597-573, on Nov. 3. The following day, Handy requested the recount. On Thursday, Handy picked up only one vote in the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine political spokespeople David Sorensen, Jodi Quintero take new jobs
There’s some change on the Maine political media relations front this week, with two mouthpieces — one Republican and one Democrat — taking new jobs. Republican Gov. Paul LePage has hired David Sorensen, who was the spokesman for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for the past year, as a policy adviser, while […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Analysis: Legislature to decide Thursday mostly what it won’t do in 2016
AUGUSTA — Legislators will return to the State House for housekeeping duties Thursday, but you’ll probably hear more about what they won’t do. Earlier this month, Gov. Paul LePage called on legislators to approve funding to hire more judges, agents and prosecutors to fight Maine’s drug epidemic. If they don’t, the governor said he’d call […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage wants to block Syrian refugees
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage said Monday that he will oppose any effort by the federal government to settle Syrian refugees in Maine after Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris. LePage joined other Republican governors in condemning President Barack Obama’s goal of accepting 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next year, saying to do so “without knowing […]
Posted inMaine
Maine People’s Alliance plays new, aggressive role in elections
LEWISTON — The ink on the post-Election Day newspapers was barely dry and the ecstatic news releases declaring victory for Maine Republicans for the second year in a row were already streaming in. Maine GOP Chairman Rick Bennett declared the night’s events “historic.” It’s true, Republicans appeared to capture two seats in the Maine House […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston Facebook voter group stirs election interest
LEWISTON — On one hand, Heidi Sawyer said, the Lewiston Rocks the Vote group on Facebook helped generate a good deal of interest in local issues for this November’s election. On the other hand, it’s exhausting. “I’m tired,” she said. “I could spend all day moderating the page, but I’m not getting paid for it. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Recount affirms Matthew Harrington wins House District 19 race
AUGUSTA — A Republican has won a recount of a contested Maine House of Representatives seat. The House District 19 recount took place on Friday. Democrat Jean Noon of Sanford asked for the recount after she appeared to lose the race to Republican Matthew A. Harrington by 14 votes. Noon is the widow of Rep. […]